It was 8 A.M. and the sidewalks of Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, were already filled to capacity. Two hours later, the spectacle they were all there to see was finally underway.

The annual Dragon*Con parade is something that the convention attendees and local townies do not miss. Dragon*Con is well-known for a standard-setting caliber of costuming, and the parade is its ultimate runway show.

Practically every genre of sci-fi and fantasy are represented by parading costumers, from the "Rainbow Bright" friends to Wookies who tower three feet above everyone in attendance. The attention to detail of all the costumes is truly stunning, leaving onlookers with wide eyes and gaping smiles.

Just in case you couldn't tell from all the other posts on this blog right now, Dragon*Con is happening in Atlanta, Georgia as we speak. It's a veritable bacchanalia of all things geek - a little bit like the Mos Eisley cantina scene, but with a much better-looking drinking scene. (Although you'll definitely be able to find cosplayers re-enacting it.) Since we know that more than a few of you will be in attendance, we'd love for you to share your Dragon*Con adventures with us! FULL POST

Joe Peacock probably owns more singular pieces of art from "Akira" – including production cels and layout sketches – than any other person on the planet.

His collection includes more than 15,000 of the ballpark 300,000 pieces of art that comprised Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 film. And lucky for you, he's not hording them for his solitary viewing pleasure. Peacock organized his collection into the "Art of Akira" exhibit, and this weekend he has set up shop at Dragon*Con.

Peacock has crisscrossed the globe with his exhibit, learning firsthand how the movie that influenced him (not only does he collect Akira cels, he chooses to tattoo the art of Akira on his own body) has influenced people everywhere. FULL POST

When is the sound of a shotgun blast not just a shotgun blast? When it is paired with 14 other sounds, including a roaring lion and an object being sucked through a tube.

Sound and sound effects in video games are just as integral to the overall game experience as a good soundtrack is for a motion picture. And gamers are demanding more realism from their games and sound effects are crucial to the experience.

Whether it is a weapon blast, a fantasy creature screaming, or simple handslaps on a railing, the sound directors are searching for the right mix of sound to link gamers to the game. Simply recording a gun shot or a footstep won’t work for an effect that could be repeated dozens of times throughout a game. FULL POST

About this Blog

It takes one to know one. When it comes to topics of interest to nerds, geeks, and superfans, we know how true that is. Geek Out! features stories from a nerd's perspective that you can still share with your "normal" friends and family.